Wire stretcher



Sept

J. 5. 'GWYNNE 1,776,184

WIRE STRETCHER Filed Feb. 26, 1929 6, givEN W ale ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 16, 1930 UNITED, STATES JEROME s. Gw nne, or cansomwnsnmeron WIRE STRETCHER Application filed February 26, 1929. Serial No.'342,'925

This invention relates to wire stretchers such as are used for stretching fence wire strands.- Y I A primary object of the invention is to provide a stretcher of this character which is simple and cheap to manufacture, strong and reliable and which may be quickly applied to fence posts for stretching the Wire to be attached thereto and removed when neces- 1 sary to use it in connection with another wire or with the same wire to be connected'to another post.

Another object of the invention is to so construct a device of this character that it may be held to the post by a single fastener and which has means for engaging the wire being stretched so as to prevent the pivoting of the stretcher on the post.

In carrying out these objects, the invention is susceptible of a wide range of modification without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the claimed invention; there being shown in the drawings for illustrative purposes a preferred and practical form, in which:

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a portion of a fence post and a wire strand with this improved stretcher shown in position ready for use;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof with parts broken out;

Fig. 3 is atransverse section taken on the line 3.3 of Fig. 2;

bolt perpendicularly into the grain of the above the pipe 11. This sliding ratchet bar thereto. Intermediate their ends these jaws Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on the line post turning of the bolt or holder in the post.

is prevented. This bolt 1 forms a support for mounting the wire'stretcher lO on the post P.

The wire stretcher comprises a hollow. cylindrical member 11 constructed of'heavy 50' metal preferably of one-inch gas pipe'four feet long the upper wall of which is slotted longitudinally as shown at 12 to providefor the sliding therein of a ratchet bar' l3rthe teeth 14015 which project through the slot 13 has its inner edge slit transversely at intervals and portions thereof bent' outwardly in opposite directions'to'form guiding arms 15 and 16 shownclearly in Fig. 4 which engage 00 the walls of the pipe 11 and hold the ratchet teeth in operative position and prevent wa-bbling of the bar in the pipe.

Securedtto the bottom of the'pipe 111s a reinforcement bar 17 composed of wood or any suitable material bolted or otherwise secured to the pipe and which is apertured transversely for the passage therethrough of the post attaching bolt 1. a

At one end of the ratchet bar 13 is an upstanding clamp 18 for gripping and holding the wire 2to be stretched. This clamplS as shown is composed of two jaws l9 and 20 which straddle the end of the ratchet bar 13 and are riveted or otherwise fixedly secured are bowed outwardly as shown at21 to form a wire receiving space while the upper ends above said space are to be arranged in contact with each other and'are apertured to receiving a clamping bolt 22 which has a head or upset portion 23 at one end and the other end threaded and provided with a nut 24: for tightening or loosening the jaws to clamp the wire therebetween. 85

A loop member 25 is designed to straddle the wire 2 between the post to which the stretcher is to be attached and the one to which it has previously been secured and which'has the ends thereof bent laterally and adapted to be inserted in the pipe 11 as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2 to hold it frictionally engaged with the pipe after it has been slipped over the wire to hold the stretcher against up and down movement or sidewise movement. The loop member 25 also serves ber, the loop portion of which isdesigned to engage the teeth 14: of the rack-bar while the ends of said member straddle the ratchet.

bar, the pipe and the reinforcement 17 and have their terminals bent and e'xten'ded later-- ally and are pivotally connected with the reinforcement bar 17. This locking dogor pawl 26 when engaged with theteeth 1 4 of the ratchet bar as shown clearly in Figs. 1

and 2'willhold the ratchet bar against pull:--

ing in the .directionof the strainexerted-by the wire Qbeing stretched. I

An operatingleverBl is pivotallyconnected" withthe stretcher body preferably-at one side i of theeaperture through'which thebolt 1: ex-

tends This lever 31' isshown bifurcated? at;

its connected en'd-and the furcationsQS and- 29 thereof straddle the ratchet bar, the'ppipe' and-the reinforcement bar and are" preferably connected with the reinforcement bar-[by a pivot rod or shaft30J 'A U-shaped pawL-32 has the legs thereof pivotally connected-withthe furcations .28 and 29 0f the lever as is i v shown clearly in Fig. 8. This piiwl32stradell-d t0 gnda ratchet barsllda'bl'ymounted dles the rack bar 13 and the cross-barformed by theconnected ends thereof is designed for engagement withfthe teeth 14 whereby the-bar with the wire 2 connected therewithwill be moved in the direction in which the wire 2'is to be stretched upon the forcible movement of the lever 27 towards the'left; When it has been moved to its fullest extentthe latch pawl 26 will drop down into engagement with the teeth; 14 and hold the rack bar when the lever 31 isbeing-moved forward to take another) grip on the bar for exerting a' further pull on the wire'2. V

It will thus be seen that with thewire 2 designed ;to be nailed or stapled toethe post P the wire stretcher 1.0 is mounted on said-post by the bar 17 being slipped on said bolt 1 up,

close against the post in which position the-bar and the wire clamped thereto will have just enough clearance to slide easily without wabblingsince the draft is straight back on the wire 2 and the stretcher is kept in place with out turning the post or bending. the bolt Then it is desired to change the stretcher from'one post to another or from one point on one post to another point thereon all that is necessaryis to tap the stretcher or the bolt with a hammer to loosen the bolt and it can be moved to another position and again driv- ,moving the-ratchet bar in ,one' direction against the, strain of awire held-by the afore;'

said clampyand a locking pawl carried by the (Y 1 en into the post in the manner above described.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or its scope as claimed.

I claim:

1. A Wire stretcher comprising a tubular body member adapted to-be removably. mountiedon a fence post and having a tubular portion, said portion being longitudinally slotted -froin end-*to" end, a ratchet bar mounted to slide in said slot and having laterally bent arms-"fittingwithin the tube and adapted to guide the, ratchet-bar and prevent wabbling of the same thereinq'an upstanding wire engaging clampatone end of the ratchetban 'jj operating leverfulcrumedqonsaid body member and having a U-shaped pawl for body member on the opposite-sidelof the ful crum f theioperatinglever to' engaggiatoothg r of fihe-IatGh6t-bay andrhold it i adjusted. ;.pos itio n.-.,

ed on a fence post andhaving .a tubular-p or tion,saidportion slotted longitudinally from said slot, the teeth projecting beyond said tube, said lratchet bar having laterally bent arms engaging the inner wall of the tube to act 1 as guides-and-prevent wabbling ofthe ratchet a Y bar, an upstanding wire engaging-clamp projecting from one end of the ratchet bar, aiwire 7 guideloop frictionally. held in the opposite I end oftheitube and adapted to straddleand; 1

guide: the wire to-be stretched, an operating? lever fulcrumed on said body memberhaving adjusted position. -c 1 8. A wire stretcher comprisinga reinforcmember slotted longitudinally from end to end, a-flat ratchet bar slidably'mounted in- 1 extending from said vfittingavithin said tubular body member, and

adaptedto provide guides for said bar andi prevent wabbling thereof, an upstanding wire engagingclamp at one end of the ratchet bar,

I an operating lever' fulcrumed on said-v reinforcingibar andhaving a U-shaped' pawl- ---said slot, a plurality of laterally bent arms, ratchet bar and snugly adapted to move the ratchet bar-in one di- 1 30 1.2. A, wire stretcher comprising-a tubular J body member adapted to be removablymount fi",

110 a pawl adaptedto engage the teeth oftheg ratchet bar' to move the same in onedi-rection 3 againstthe strain of the wireclamped there-' on and means for locking the ratchet barlin rection against the strain of a wire held by the aforesaid Wire clamp, a locking bail pivotally secured on said reinforcing bar adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet bar and hold it in adjusted position, and detachable means held in one end of thetubular body member adapted to act as a Wire guide and a support for the end of the tubular body member. V

Signed at Stevenson, in the county of Skamania and State of Washington, this 14th day of February, A. D. 1929.

' JEROME S. GWYNNE. 

